APPEALS COURT: Obama Nominates Iowan

APPEALS COURT: Obama Nominates Iowan

President Obama has nominated an Iowan to serve on the United States Court of Appeals.

Jane Kelly of Cedar Rapids is currently the Assistant Federal Public Defender in the northern district of Iowa.

She was nominated by Iowa Senator Tom Harkin to replace Judge Michael Melloy on the Eighth Circuit Court, who recently announced his retirement. President Obama’s formal nomination will now be sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will need to approve it before it is sent before the full U.S. Senate.

If confirmed, Kelly would be the second female judge in history to serve on the Eighth Circuit.

“Jane Kelly has spent her career working on behalf of the most underprivileged in society and has fought tirelessly to ensure the rights of all Iowans are protected,” said Harkin. “She has a reputation as an extremely talented lawyer with a great sense of compassion and fairness.”

President Obama also nominated Gregory Phillips to serve on the tenth circuit.